Chennai: MK Stalin surrenders illegally-imported Hummer to CBI

Chennai: DMK leader MK Stalin on Friday surrendered his illegally-imported Hummer to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Chennai. Sources said Stalin's son Udayanidhi came to the Chennai office of the agency and handed over Sports Utility Vehicle Hummer which was imported in 2007 and registered in his name.

They said the car was one of the vehicles which were allegedly imported by Hyderabad businessman Alex C Joseph evading customs duties and sold to influential people at attractive rates.

The search by the CBI team at the residence of Stalin to look for a Hummer, just couple of days after DMK withdrew support from UPA Government, had sparked a political storm with the agency launching an internal inquiry to see if there were any procedural lapses in searches.

The sources said agency has booked a Directorate of Revenue Intelligence Officer Muruganandan who was allegedly acting in collusion with Joseph in the vehicle import racket. They said Jospeh is still untraceable and agency is looking for him.

The CBI had seized 11 cars belonging to BCCI chief and India Cements promoter N Srinivasan as part of its raids in Chennai, sources said. The sources added that Srinivasan had allegedly evaded paying tax on the imported cars.